A drugged-up driver who went at speeds of more than 100mph killed two young men in a horror crash.
Taylor Hanlon lost control of his high-powered Subaru on the A706 near Kepscaith Farm in West Lothian on August 29, 2020.
The unemployed 27-year-old's car landed upturned in a field. Connor Elgey, 19, and Troi Lawton, 23, had been passengers in the vehicle.
Promising chef Connor never survived having been trapped in the wrecked Subaru. Troi - a mechanic - was flung out the vehicle and also died.
Father and son Andrew and John Goldie - who were the other passengers - were badly hurt as a result of horrific crash.
Tests later showed Hanlon had earlier taken cocaine, cannabis and Valium before getting behind the wheel in the early hours of that morning.
Hanlon today pled guilty to causing the deaths and serious injury to the other men by dangerous driving. He is already behind bars for a domestic abuse matter.
Hanlon, of Bathgate, West Lothian, will return to the dock in the new year. He had been driving that morning taking him and the others to Andrew Goldie's home.
Prosecutor Chris McKenna said the journey took him onto the A71 in West Calder, West Lothian. Mr McKenna told the High Court in Glasgow: "The speed limit is set at 60mph. Hanlon was recorded travelling at a speed of approximately 111mph."
One witness recalled hearing "wheels screeching". The court heard he continued to go over the limit as the men neared Kepscaith Farm.
Mr McKenna then explained: "He negotiated a bend at excessive speed, lost control and mounted a kerb. He collided with wall which resulted in the vehicle becoming airborne.
"The car landed in an adjacent field and repeatedly overturned before coming to a stop upside down."
Troi and the Goldies were flung from the Subaru as it rolled. Hanlon dialled 999 and claimed his car had "unexpectedly come off the road".
He said he could not get a response from any of his passengers. Emergency services arrived and it was found Connor was already dead from a head injury.
Troi was tragically discovered 41 metres away from the car. He had also suffered a fatal head injury. The Goldies were also in the field before being rushed to hospital in Edinburgh for urgent treatment.
Andrew Goldie, 52, had suffered brain damage, badly broken ribs and other fractures. He ended up having to be placed in a rehab unit to try and recover from his ordeal.
Mr McKenna: "He struggles greatly with his mobility and relies on others in relation to day to day activities."
His 28 year-old son John's injuries included a bleed on the brain as well as skull and cheekbone fractures. He also suffered panic attacks. John was able to be released from hospital on September 10 2020.
Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing for reports. The judge told Hanlon: "You have pled guilty to a very, very serious charge.
"You caused the death of two people and the very serious injury of two others. Your driving was highly dangerous and reckless especially given the drugs you had taken."
A family statement released via Digby Brown Solicitors said: “What happened that day changed our lives forever in ways many people couldn’t understand.
“We just need to trust in the justice system to make sure the right outcome is reached.
“We’d like our privacy to be respected going forwards but we’d like to thank those who have helped us as we try and rebuild our future.”
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